Pleural fluid localization device and method of using

Abstract

A novel pleural fluid localization device and method of using is disclosed. The device includes a marker, having a top side, a bottom side adapted to be affixed to the body of a patient, a top edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, and a bottom edge; and a first plurality of markings on the marker to guide a clinician in localizing an area on the body a patient to perform a procedure on the patient. The method includes placing the marker on the body of the patient; imaging the patient; reading the location on the plurality of markings on the marker to localize the procedure on the patient; and performing the procedure on the patient at the location read on the plurality of markings on the marker during the step of reading the location on the plurality of markings on the marker to localize the procedure on the patient.

1 . A pleural fluid localization device, comprising: 
 a marker, having a top side, a bottom side adapted to be affixed to the body of a patient, a top edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, and a bottom edge; and    a first plurality of markings on the marker to guide a clinician in localizing an area on the body a patient to perform a procedure on the patient.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of markings are located on the top side of the marker.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of markings are spaced at even intervals on the top side of the marker.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second plurality of markings on the marker to guide a clinician in localizing an area on the body a patient to perform a procedure on the patient.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the second plurality of markings on the marker are located on the top edge of the marker.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the second plurality of markings are spaced at even intervals on the top side of the marker.  
   
   
       7 . A method of using a pleural fluid localization device having a plurality of markings on the marker to localize an area on the body of a patient for a clinician to perform a procedure, comprising the steps of: 
 placing the marker on the body of the patient;    imaging the patient;    reading the location on the plurality of markings on the marker to localize the procedure on the patient; and    performing the procedure on the patient at the location read on the plurality of markings on the marker during the step of reading the location on the plurality of markings on the marker to localize the procedure on the patient.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of imaging the patient includes the step of imaging the patient using an X-Ray machine.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of imaging the patient includes the step of imaging the patient with a CT scanner.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the marker having a plurality of markings includes a top side, bottom side, top edge, bottom edge, first side edge, and second side edge, and the step of reading the location on the plurality of markings on the marker to localize the procedure on the patient includes reading a first set of markings which are located on the top side of the marker.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the marker having a plurality of markings includes a top side, bottom side, top edge, bottom edge, first side edge, and second side edge, and the step of reading the location on the plurality of markings on the marker to localize the procedure on the patient includes reading a second set of markings which are located on the top edge of the marker.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of performing the procedure on the patient at the location read on the plurality of markings on the marker during the step of reading the location on the plurality of markings on the marker to localize the procedure on the patient includes inserting a tap to drain fluid from the location.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of performing the procedure on the patient at the location read on the plurality of markings on the marker during the step of reading the location on the plurality of markings on the marker to localize the procedure on the patient includes obtaining a sample for biopsy from the location.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of performing the procedure on the patient at the location read on the plurality of markings on the marker during the step of reading the location on the plurality of markings on the marker to localize the procedure on the patient includes placing a chest tube at the location.